The Community Auxiliary Development for Effective Transformation Network (CADETN) clarified on Monday that the guard of honour seen in a viral video featuring President Bola Tinubu’s son Seyi Tinubu is part of the organisation’s standard protocol for welcoming dignitaries to its events.
The video, which showed Mr Tinubu inspecting the guard of honour during the CityBoy Youth Empowerment Programme in Ogun State, has sparked public criticism, with some describing it as inappropriate. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called for an investigation, labeling the gesture a “serious breach of military tradition.”
Responding in a statement, CADETN corps commander Josh Fatoye emphasised that the practice is not exclusive to Tinubu. He explained that the same honour was accorded to other dignitaries present including the personal assistant to the president on special duties, minister of youth development, minister of digital economy and senior presidential aides.
Fatoye further clarified that CADETN is a civilian organisation and that the guard of honour is a ceremonial gesture to show respect, not a military protocol.
He said, “As a youth uniformed volunteer organization, we want to set the record straight and clear misconceptions about the Guard of Honour. It is of note that the guard of Honour was used to welcome dignitaries to the event as it is a youth empowerment programme and the organisation is a youth organisation.
“The guard also honoured other dignitaries like the PA to the President on Special Duties as the program played host to many dignitaries like the Minister of Youth Development, Minister of Digital Economy, SSA to the President on Citizenship & Leadership, SSA to the President on Digital Comm & New Media, CoS to Ogun State Governor and so many other dignitaries that graced the occasion This was not exclusive to Seyi Tinubu.”
Fatoye further stated that the CADETN operates as a youth-focused uniformed voluntary organisation, similar to Man O’ War and Peace Corps, and is neither a military outfit nor affiliated with the Armed Forces.
He added, “The CADETN is a youth uniformed organization and not a military outfit and also not in any way affiliated to the military or Armed Forces as been claimed by some mischief makers. The organization is a voluntary organisation that operates like the likes of Man O War, Peace Corps, Royal Ambassador, Man of Order, WAI Brigade and other relevant uniformed voluntary organisations. “
The corps commander also dismissed claims of using military paraphernalia or live ammunition as “false and misleading.”
He said, “We would like to state categorically that no ammunition was used and no military paraphernalia was used during the guard of Honour as peddled by critics. The guard of Honour was mounted using wooden crafted dummy rifles as it is practised among other uniform organizations. Any weapon seen in the video is that of the security details of the dignitaries and not that of the organisation.”
